 History |
|
|
|
 |
 |
For over a decade, the ROC government has been actively promoting and sponsoring cultural activities. As part of its effort to preserve and maintain our cultural heritage, the Council for Cultural Affairs, Executive Yuan has established specialized museums featuring local collections in the Cultural Centers of Taiwan's sixteen counties and five major cities.
In this 1984 inspection tour to the Cultural Centers around the island, Mr. Chi-Lu Chen, then chief of the agency, gave specific instructions about the museums. "The Cultural Centers of all counties and major cities," he advised, "should merge themselves into the cultural background of the geographical areas they are located in. They should help make the unique qualities in the local culture more recognizable. That's what Cultural Centers are for." As a result, the Chinese Furniture Museum was established in Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taoyuan County Government at Mr. Chen's suggestion.
The museum is responsible for continuing and revitalizing this Chinese tradition, utilizing the abundant forestry resources of Taoyuan county, and promotina the fine tradition of furniture craftsmanship in Ta-shi. The CCPD commissioned scholars such as Professors Zeng-Hu Jeng and Shao-Ing Jiang to organize a project planning team and look into the basic ideas and exhibition plans. After their report was submitted on September 30, 1996, the Center went ahead according to their plans and started building the museum under the direction of the two professors.
The construction was done in three phases due to budget considerations. The phase-one construction mainly houses the special exhibitions of traditional Chinese furniture and furniture made in the Taoyuan (Ta-shi) area. The exhibitions include ten sections, such as terminology and a brief history of Chinese furniture. The exhibitions on furniture in early Taiwanese life and the traditional art of furniture making occupy phase-two of the project. Phase-three buildings are mostly peripheral facilities to the museum and space for researchers. All construction work was completed in December 1992. |
|
 |
|
| Content of Exhibition |
|
|
|
| The Chinese Furniture Museum, located in the basement of Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taoyuan County Government, occupies an area of 990 square meters (10,890 square feet). The museum has two main functions: the static function of collecting and showcasing various types of furniture, and the dynamic function of research and educating the public.
The theme of this museum is to exhibit furniture of traditional Chinese style and modern furniture that keeps this tradition alive. The traditional Chinese wooden furniture collection constitutes the main part of the exhibition, and includes on explanation of the origin, functions, and technical aspects of traditional Chinese furniture, and samples of furniture made from other materials. Traditional Chinese furniture is represented by the Ming dynasty style and early Qing dynasty style. Furniture made in the early periods of Taiwan history include Qing dynasty-style furniture.
In addition, there is a retrospection of traditional furniture industry in the Taoyuan (Ta-shi) area and its prospeets. Exhibition Room I is the site of special exhibitions on traditional Chinese furniture and furniture made in the Ta-shi area. The interior design of the showroom is a replica of a Suchou-style garden, and the items on display are placed side by side for comparison. The presentation includes: terminology, chronicle of the evolution of furniture, furniture in ancient paintings and buildings, revered master craftsmen, characteristics of traditional furniture, the making of furniture, types of traditional Chinese furniture, traditional Taiwanese furniture, special exhibition on traditional furniture from Ta-shi, prospects and market expansion.
Exhibition Room II features traditional Taiwanese furniture and traditional furniture production techniques. Interior design brings the visitors back to the time of the earliest Chinese migrants to Taiwan, with furniture displayed in dioramas depicting the era. The room is divided into the "Main Entrance and Courtyard," "the Kitchen and Dining Room," "the Study and Accounting Office," "the Ancestor Worship Room (the Host Room)," "the Bedroom," "Furniture for Reference," and "Making of Traditional Furniture." The peripheral facilities in the museum include the audio-visual showing room, the library, the research area, etc. Introductory videotapes are played for visitors in the audio-video showing room at scheduled times. |
|
|
| Guided Tour Service |
|
|
|
 |
Guided tours for groups: Our staff members are happy to take visitors on a tour with a reservation by telephone or letter. The tour includes a videotape viewing session of seven, twelve or twenty minutes optionally ccording to the length of the tour. The introductory video has narration in Mandarin, English and Japanese. Telephone: (03)332-2592 ext.853/854; Fax:(03)335-4384 |
|
Audio Guide: The museum provides audio tapes of the visitor's guide in Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, Japanese, and English versions. The tapes are loaned to visitors along with portable cassette players free of charge. Visitors show their ID cards or driver's licenses to borrow the tapes and return after the tour. |
|
Using personal cassette players in the Chinese Furniture Museum |
| |
 |
The audio tour guide is available on opening days from 8:30~12:00 a.m. and 1:00~4:00 p.m |
|
The tapes are available in Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, English, and Japanese versions. |
|
Visitors must show their ID cards or driver's license to borrow the tapes. |
|
Playing the visitor's own tapes on cassette players provided by the museum is prohibited. |
|
The visitor will be subjected to fines for any physical damage of equipment leased by the museum caused by improper usage on the visitor's part. |
|
|
|
|
| Rules for visitors
|
|
|
|
| Cameras not allowed without permission of the museum; no photography with flashlight and tripod |
| Open Hours |
|
|
|
|
8:30~12:00 a.m. ,1:00~4:50 p.m. |
|
Open on national holidays, closed the next day |
|
Museum closed Monday and Tuesday morning. (Closed all day on Tuesdays following two-day weekends). Also closed on traditional holidays (Chinese New Year, Tomb-sweeping Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival) and the last day of each month |
|
Special closing times subject to further notice |
|
|
| Address of the museum
|
|
|
|
|
21 Shian Fu Road, Taoyuan (in the basement of Taoyuan Cultural Center) |
|
Telephone: (03)332-2592 |
|
|
| Transportation
|
|
|
|
|
Reachable by Taoyuan City Bus No.1, Chungli Lines Bus No.1, and Taiwan Motor Company bus to Chungli. Disembark at Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taoyuan County Government Building, and walk to the Cultural Center to get to the museum. |
|
Get off the Sun Yat-sen Freeway at Nankang exchange ramp; drive to downtown Taoyuan on Chuen Re Road; turn right at San Min Road; turn right again at Chung Shan Road to reach the museum |
|
Get off the Connecting Highway between the Sun Yat-sen Freeway and the Taoyuan exchange; drive to downtown Taoyuan; turn right at Guo Ji Road; then turn left on Chung Shan Road to reach the museum |
|
|
|
